Rutgers University
Michigan
WLAX Dominates Michigan, 16-6, on Senior Day
Apr 30 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - On a day Rutgers women's lacrosse honored its senior class prior to opening draw, it was a junior that took over once the first whistle sounded. Midfielder Kristina Dunphey (Hillsborough, N.J.) scored a career-high seven goals Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium to send the Scarlet Knights off with a 16-6 win over Michigan and clinch the No. 4 seed for the 2016 Big Ten Tournament.
2016 B1G Tournament Bracket | 2016 B1G Tourrnament Tickets
"I don't know that you could script it any better," said head coach Laura Brand-Sias. "They're a phenomenal group and we wanted to make sure we gave them a really lasting memory on their last home game. I'm glad that we did that. It was a huge team effort and we put together a great performance which is why we were able to come out with such a decisive win."
The Scarlet Knights draw No. 19-ranked Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday at noon EST. It marks the second consecutive season the two squads will meet in the tournament. In their last meeting, Rutgers topped OSU, 13-12, in overtime on April 21 at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Against Michigan (6-11, 0-5) Saturday, Rutgers strung together one of its most dominant performances of the season en route to a 10-goal win - the team's second victory in 2016 with a double-digit scoring differential. The six goals allowed was the fewest total for the Scarlet Knights since conceding the same number to the Wolverines in a win last year to end the season.
Sophomore goalie Bianca Dente (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) played a huge part in the lockdown outing, making 11 saves and several point-blank stops. Michigan went 2-for-6 on free position shots, with Dente surrendering just three goals apiece in each period.
On the other end, Dunphey stole the show. The junior midfielder, who leads Rutgers with 41 goals this season, had four goals at halftime on her way to a career seven-goal, eight-point outing. She closed the game 3-for-4 on free-position attempts.
"She had an outstanding day," Brand-Sias said. "Definitely shot the ball better than she did the last game. She took advantage of the situation; we thought that they were going to send a lot more pressure to her when she had the ball. That's why we were putting the ball in her hands a lot to try to draw the pressure and find those open cuts. She did a really good job of just hitting those seams when she had them and shooting the ball for net."
Behind Dunphey in points was junior attacker Amanda Turturro (Farmingdale, N.J.) with two goals and two assists. Seniors Halley Barnes (Garnet Valley, Pa.) and Kim Kolodny (Farmingdale, N.J.) each scored two goals in the win after reaching 100 points for their RU careers over the last three games. Senior Nikki McMonagle (Moorestown, N.J.) celebrated the Senior Day festivities with her second goal of the year, as sophomores Joanna Reilly (Spring Lake, N.J.) and Paige Paratore (West Deptford, N.J.) also found the back of the cage.
With back-to-back home Big Ten wins, including one over a top-20 team, Rutgers rolls into the postseason. No. 4-seeded RU (5-11, 2-3) takes on No. 5-seeded Ohio State (11-5, 2-3) Thursday at noon EST in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. All games of the tournament will air live nationally on Big Ten Network.
"We're obviously going to have a battle on our hands come Thursday, so it's good to have that momentum," Brand-Sias said. "I think you want to hit your stride at the end of the season. We've been waiting for a while to start hitting our stride and to get our confidence and see what we can do."
GAME NOTES
- The Scarlet Knights are the No. 4 seed for the 2016 Big Ten Tournament, the highest B1G seed in program history. It is the highest postseason seed for Rutgers since claiming the No. 4 spot for the 2014 BIG EAST Tournament.
- Rutgers enters the postseason on a two-game winning streak, the team's first this season.
- RU is now 2-0 all-time against Michigan after topping the Wolverines in consecutive seasons.
- The Scarlet Knights held Michigan to six goals in the season finale for the second consecutive year and will open the Big Ten Tournament against Ohio State for the second consecutive year.
- Dunphey posted a career-high seven goals and eight points. It was the most points recorded by a Rutgers player since eight by Katrina Martinelli on Feb. 10, 2013 against Manhattan.
- Dunphey scored the most goals since at least the 2007 season and was three shy of the program record of 10 set by Denise Reed against Fordham on April 19, 1990.
- Dunphey's season totals of 41 goals and 50 points are the second-best individual program marks in the last 10 years. Brooke Cantwell holds the lead with 61 points and 44 goals in 2010.
- Brooks' two assists set a new career-high. Turturro had multiple assists for the third time this season and leads RU with 16.
- Dente earned her fourth win of the year with 11 saves, her third game with double-digit saves this season.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the program Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram @RULaxBrand. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
